Would I?

Since it is Lent season, it is only fitting that the sermon on Sunday was about "giving up" something. The main focus was Abraham being tested. During the time of Abraham, it was normal and even a high honor to sacrifice your child to Baal (the god of that time). Abraham was new to worshiping and knowing God so when God says to him, "Take your son, your ONLY son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering." Without hesitating, Abraham sets out the very next morning to go to the place God has told him about. It was normal practice to sacrifice your firstborn, who was Abraham to question this?

I can't imagine what must have been going through his mind the three days he journeyed to this mountain. Isaac was with him - what must they have talked about? Surely he didn't tell Isaac his plans. How must he have felt as he took each step closer and closer to the place God had commanded? Oh how he loved Isaac - how he so desperately wanted a child; and now God was asking him to sacrifice his firstborn - maybe his only born. How many times did he think about turning around? Surely this God was different from the rest.

Needless to say, I had tears in my eyes most of the sermon as I thought about my red-headed little boy. Would I have been as obedient as Abraham if I was in that situation?

My sacrifice for Lent has been the television. 40 days I will not watch one episode of my weekly shows. As I think about the shows that I watch each week, I know I can live without them. What will I do instead? Discover who Jesus really is. Spend more time with my family. Enjoy the nice weather. Go to bed earlier. Have more time to read. Yes, I have asked Jeff to save all of the shows on the TiVo, but I honestly think that come the end of Lent I really won't have missed the shows and won't feel the need to "catch up." It's a small sacrifice compared to giving up your firstborn.